Philippines’ Marcos asks cabinet secretaries to resign in government reset
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has asked all cabinet secretaries to submit their resignations, a move his office described on Thursday as a “bold reset” that will enable him to overhaul his government to better meet public expectations.

PHL must boost productivity, diversify growth drivers as trade shifts pose risks
The Philippines must improve labor conditions and infrastructure, attract more investments, and diversify its growth drivers as global uncertainties due to trade war concerns threaten the economic landscape.

Business reaction to cabinet resignations mixed
Influential business groups said on Thursday they support the President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s move to recalibrate his administration, although many of them lauded the economic team’s performance so far. They mostly back the Cabinet secretaries for doing well in propping up the economy.

BIR lessens requirements for VAT refunds
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has reduced the documentary requirements for value-added tax (VAT) refund, in line with the CREATE MORE Act.

RoW, 99-year lease bills named PHL legislative priorities
The government has designated as priority measures bills on right-of-way (RoW), extended investor leases, and the mining fiscal regime, according to Secretary Frederick D. Go, the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs.

Lawmakers urged to prioritize energy reforms in the next Congress
Incoming lawmakers should prioritize measures that would prioritize energy security, particularly amendments to the Electric Power Industry Reform Act (EPIRA) and reforms that would enhance the powers of key regulatory bodies, according to analysts.

Marcos urged to review transport infrastructure priorities
As President Marcos revamps his Cabinet, commuter and mobility groups said now is the best time for the infrastructure team to reassess what projects can be completed by 2028.

Philippines falls in global startup index for 4th year in a row
The Philippines dropped four spots in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index amid persistent gaps in infrastructure and regulations. In this year’s index, the Philippines slipped to 64th place out of 100 countries with a score of 2.237.

IT-BPM to kickstart govt-approved P740M upskill plan in H2
The government has committed P740 million to jumpstart large-scale training and upskilling for the information technology-business process management (IT-BPM) sector, the IT Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) said.

Market watches as economic team likely stays amid Cabinet reset
President Marcos' directive for Cabinet resignations has sparked a mix of hope and apprehension in the local financial market, as some view it as a necessary step toward improved governance and economic performance, while others are concerned about potential market volatility during the transition.

Just like Marcos, Nancy Binay will also order courtesy resignations in Makati
Outgoing Senator and Makati City Mayor-elect Nancy Binay announced that she will also ask department heads of the Makati city local government to submit their courtesy resignations.

Philippines logistics industry grows 11% in 3 months
Based on data from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), cargo traffic in ports rose by 11 percent to 65.77 million metric tons from January to March, from 59.52 MMT a year ago.

DA sees improving rice production this year
The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects local rice production to recover and meet rising demand for the household staple this year, shrugging off recent projections that the Philippines would have to rely more on imports.

ERC OKs P32 billion NGCP projects
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has approved the two transmission projects of National Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) worth over P32 billion.

Marcos Jr. wants more e-gates in airports to address complaints about long queues
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said that e-gates will be increased in airports to address the long queues in the Philippines’ gateways, and improve services for overseas Filipino workers (OFW) who are often required to go through multiple counters before boarding their flight.

Rehabilitation of Edsa to finally start middle of June
After being deferred several times, the long overdue rehabilitation of Edsa will finally start in June, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).